Group Targets Town, School Spending

February 25, 1994|By Christine Dempsey; Courant Staff Writer

VERNON - — The Vernon Taxpayers Association wants the town council to reject the proposed school budget, reduce the yet-to-be- proposed town government budget and stop using a new method of determining motor vehicle taxes that will cost some car owners more.

The group sent a letter recently to town and school officials, asking for a discussion of the three issues, George Roraback, association vice president, said.

Rene Bedard, a member of the group's board of directors, said Thursday that no meeting or discussion has been scheduled.

Group members say they want the council to vote down the board of education budget until it puts the children first.

Roraback, Bedard and association Treasurer Arthur J. Bryant said the proposed $32.58 million education budget ``rewards the poor performance of educators.'' As an example, they point to lower scores on tests such as the Scholastic Achievement Test. Rockville High School's Class of 1993 scored lower on the exam than any other senior class in a decade.

``Wages must be frozen until test scores rise to acceptable levels,'' the letter states. But the association would support money for computers, supplies, and for ``strengthening basic education,'' it said.

David Kemp, school board chairman, said the group seems to be forgetting ``bench mark'' wage agreements the town has made in recent months. For example, under the new teachers' contract, most instructors will not receive a salary increase in July.

Roraback said the group did not discuss what specific amount the council should cut from the proposed school budget, which be an increase of 3.87 percent over current spending. The usual procedure is for the mayor to review it along with other departments' budget requests and make a recommendation to the council. The council then may propose cuts in the school budget, but it may not legally tell the board where to make those cuts.

The association also wants the town government budget to be cut by 5 percent. Mayor Edward C. Slattery said he could not comment, because he has not seen the requests of all departments.

Roraback said, ``No matter what it the budget is, any good manager should be able to cut 5 percent from a budget. We have to do it in business all the time.''

Councilwoman Christy Vale said the letter ``shows a total lack of understanding of the practical side of running a town.''

The group is also protesting the use of a new method to assess motor vehicles. The method means higher car taxes for some people, because it considers the vehicle's options.

Slattery said the new method is scheduled to be discussed at next week's town council meeting.